Warren councilman calls on state to use rainy day fund in drug epidemic fight
New numbers out last week are shedding new light on the deadly drug epidemic and how it's impacting Trumbull County.
Test results show Fentanyl-related deaths jumped up by 300 percent in 2016.
Warren City Councilman At-Large Eddie Colbert joined WFMJ Weekend Today's Press Pass Sunday morning to reflect on the ongoing fight against the epidemic.
Colbert says he believes it's time for state to open up the rainy day fund to help pay for more resources.
"If this is not a rainy day in Ohio, what is?" Colbert said.
Warren city council and Trumbull County commissioners have both passed measures that formally request state and federal authorities declare a state of emergency in the county for the opioid epidemic.
Colbert says they have yet to receive a response from the governor's office.
Since Ohio Governor John Kasich took office, Colbert says the city of Warren has lost nearly a million dollars in local government funds. He believes it's time for the state to give that money back to local communities to aid in the war on drugs.
In addition to more funding, Colbert says the cap on treatment beds needs to be addressed.
"Right now one of the issues is if you were seeking rehabilitation, the beds are not always available due to this crisis," he said.